Gemotions

The coffee machine, usually a source of comfort, now spewed a stream of noxious steam, mirroring the hot, churning storm inside Daniel. He gestured towards the machine, his hand trembling slightly. “So, you see, the coffee… it’s… important.” He wanted to throw the whole thing out the window.

He watched the new recruit fiddle with the controls, the kid’s movements slow, clumsy. Every mistake, every misstep, was a tiny stab wound, each one opening a fresh fissure in his already fragile control. He swallowed hard, trying to appear nonchalant.

“Just… be careful with the…” Daniel stopped mid-sentence, his voice catching in his throat. He felt the blood pounding in his temples. He imagined the machine’s steaming hot contents being poured directly on the eager face. He gripped the edge of the counter, fighting the impulse to snatch the cup away and hurl it at the wall.